Sandhill cranes cause farmers problems

REEDSVILLE, Wis. (AP) – Sandhill cranes were once nearly extinct but have rebounded so well in Wisconsin that they’re becoming a headache for farmers in Manitowoc County. Jim Knickelbine, the director of nature center in the area, tells the Herald Times Reporter that there were 390 sandhill cranes in Manitowoc County in 2012. They typically return to the area in March and eat corn seed out of the soil in the early part of planting season. An official at Blue Royal Farms in Reedsville says the operation racked up more than $90,000 in damages largely caused by having to continually replant in areas where the 6-inch tall birds eat the corn seeds. Wisconsin lawmakers introduced a bill for a short sandhill crane hunting season in 2012 but it did not get a vote.

This entry was posted by WRJC News on July 8, 2013 at 8:26 am, and is filled under State News. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.